“It isn’t real?”
He let out a harsh laugh and I jerked back self-consciously. “Oh, I suppose it’s real. The service is real. But honestly, Freya, don’t you see?”
“See what?” I cursed my bound brain.
“Grand Council.”
I drew a sharp breath at the words. He shook his head slightly.
“The truth of the calling is simply service to Grand Council. A hundred years of servitude under the guise of duty and honor.” I must have looked disbelieving. “What is honorable about doing their bidding?”
“So, you… you don’t… answer the call?” I was searching.
He almost roared with laughter. “No. We do not answer.” He settled a bit as he continued, “They do not call.” At that, Steed joined in lightly.
It didn’t make sense, I knew I had been assigned a watcher. From the North. “No one?" I asked.
“No. Council does not attempt to rule the North.”
I considered that, considered my watcher. He was a volunteer. I seethed for a moment then flashes of my mother and council cloaks flooded my thoughts and I had to block them.
“So the North… has no council at all?”
He seemed uncomfortable for a moment. “No. No council.” He paused while he formed the rest of his answer. Steed was watching him, intent. “We are… unruled.”
“Unruly,” Steed added with a laugh.
“You’ve never had a council?”
They shook their heads.
“No rulers?”
I noticed a sidelong glance between them. Grey answered. “Not anymore.” I could tell he intended to end the conversation with that but it only made me more curious.
I was tired of always having to make everyone spell things out for me. “No council, ever. No rulers… anymore?” They didn’t respond. “So, what then?” They were beginning to show annoyance at my questioning.
“Frey.” Chevelle was calling me from the front of the line. I looked at him, the irritated expression still there. “Time to resume your training.” Grrr…
They had me work with Anvil, trying to anticipate when he was preparing to send a small current of electricity toward me. Which, loosely translated, meant I spent the day getting shocked. I was grateful when we finally stopped to make camp.
I was afraid they would resume training after dinner, so I found a place off by myself and pretended to rest as I went back to reading the diary.
Today was exhilarating. For the first time in I don’t know how long, I was out of the castle. Free from practice, free from duties, free from walls. Though tricky to set up, the spell worked on Rune. I showed up at practice early and whispered the words in case something went wrong and he heard. I can’t imagine what my punishment would be, though it might have been worth it. He fell asleep quickly and I ran as fast as I could, my pulse pounding with excitement. I spent the entire day away from the castle. Without the drain of practice, I was thrilling with energy. I could feel the trees, the mountain. I hope father never comes back! I am sure I will try again tomorrow and every day I can spare after that.
Rune was completely unaware of any foul play yesterday so I had full confidence in the spell this morning. Not that I wouldn’t have attempted it again anyway, but at least I know I’m safer now. No worries when I’m out of the castle. My sister is out every day but I can never seem to find her. She keeps bringing back the strangest treasures. I have run for two days now, I think tomorrow I will follow her. She refuses to tell me where she goes, neither under threat nor bribe, so I’ll have to use stealth.
Today was brilliant. I left a sleeping Rune just in time to find my sister sneaking from the castle. I followed her without being seen all the way to her secret spot. It took us half the day to get there but it was completely worth it. So far away from any kind of traffic, I have no idea how she even discovered it.
Nestled in a patch of trees outside the forest was some sort of camp. I watched her at first, she scoured the area searching through the things she found there. But I couldn’t stand merely observing for long. I exposed myself and inquired about previous finds and hit her with all the questions that were plaguing me. She was furious! She screamed and cursed and fumed. She was no help with my queries so I was forced to look around myself.